Mathematical Summarizations of Individual Neuron Structures

Abstract

From Chapter 1 you may recall that there are two major reasons for using a computer to model neuroanatomical structures: to present views of the tissue that are superior to those visible in the unassisted microscope and to generate mathematical summaries that describe individual structures and compare one population of them to another population. Figure 9-1 shows a scientist summarizing a botanical tree, making the measurements on the actual growing tree. You are not so lucky, for usually you cannot measure a growing neuron. However, with help from computer programs, you may summarize the data base that represents the neurons.

Keywords

Form Factor Branch Point Dendritic Spine Branch Order Distribution Axis